Exposure of food products, drugs and other consumer commodities to adverse environmental conditions, or shipping and handling damage does not necessarily mean that the products could not be reconditioned for use by consumers. The salvage of distressed consumer commodities prevents unnecessary waste and expense. Consumer commodity salvaging should be done in a manner consistent with public health practices and eliminate products that pose an unacceptable health risk or misrepresent their history and quality. Consumer commodity salvaging requires knowledge, training, and regulatory oversight.

This Model Salvage Code is provided to assist state and local health agencies that regulate the salvage and reconditioning of distressed consumer commodities. If fully implemented, it can prevent many conditions and activities that could lead to unsafe, deceptive, and quality-compromised products from being offered for sale. The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) recognizes that salvage of these products occurs on a routine basis and there is a need to regulate salvage to protect public health and maintain consumer trust. This Model Code is based upon the Federal Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations and the cumulative experience of AFDO's membership and with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).